Greece players turn down World Cup bonuses, ask for a new training centre

The Greeks look on during their penalty shootout against Costa Rica.

Players of the Greece national football team have turned down their World Cup bonuses, and have asked their Prime Minister Antonis Samarasto use the money to build a team training centre instead.

In a letter to Greece Prime Minister Antonis Samaras signed by all of the 23-members of the team squad, they stated as quoted in the News Bomb, “We do not want extra bonus, or money. We only play for Greece and its people. All we want is for you to support our effort to find a land and create a sports center that will house our National team.”

Greece advanced to the Round of 16, a feat they had achieved for the first time in the tournament, however, succumbed to elimination following their defeat to Costa Rica on penalties on Sunday.

Greek blogger for ESPN Chris Paraskevas confirmed the story on Twitter:

#Greece players have turned down their #WorldCup bonuses. Asked Greek PM for money to be spent on new training facilities for national team.

— Chris Paraskevas (@Cparaskevas) June 29, 2014

Greece were not the first team to have been offered a generous compensation for their performance in the ongoing tournament with both Cameroon and Ghana having already received their fair share of prize money.

Unlike Greece, the Ghana players had a different idea in mind as they threatened a strike after their government had failed to pay them the promised bonuses at first. However, they came through later, and had $3m (£1.8million) sent to Brazil to resolve the issue.